Kampala tours & holiday packages
Uganda's largest cityCustom Kampala
- Describe your dream trip
- We'll source the best value
- Book when you're ready
Uganda's capital city has been through hard times but recent economic revitalisation has seen a boom in new construction, from hotels to shopping malls
Kampala, with a population of around 1.5 million, is Uganda's largest city and its capital. The land it stands on today was originally chosen by Kabaka Mutesa I of the Buganda Kingdom as his favourite hunting grounds – an area of hills and wetlands that was an ideal breeding ground for game, especially impala. The city grew as the capital of the Buganda Kingdom and, like Rome was originally built across seven hills.
The name derives from the Luganda expression ‘Kosozi Kampala’, meaning ‘Hill of Antelope’.
In the first decade after independence in 1962, Kampala was widely considered the showpiece of East Africa and its Makerere University the academic heart of the region. Its status deteriorated under Idi Amin and its infrastructure was seriously damaged during the Uganda-Tanzania conflict that ended in 1986.
Since then, however, Kampala has seen the construction of new buildings such as hotels, banks, shopping malls, educational institutions, and hospitals, as well as improvement of war-torn buildings.
Popular Kampala safaris
These popular itineraries can be customised to match your budget and travel dates
Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)
See mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys and tree-climbing lions, take a boat cruise and visit Rwanda's genocide memorial
$ 9,125
£ 6,585
R 130,262
€ 7,556
per person
12 days
“I prefer to avoid Kampala and use the more tranquil Entebbe as an overnight stop, which is also closer to the international airport.”
More on Kampala holidays
There isn't much to do in Kampala. The once popular Muammar Gadaffi Mosque isn't visited anymore after the fall of the once-prominent African leader. You could go to see the ancient Kasubi tombs of former kings of Uganda, visit the Uganda Museum or Ndere Cultural Centre or enjoy good food at a local Kampala restaurant.
Kampala Map
Kampala's location on Google Maps
Frequently Asked Questions about Kampala
Whether you are in the Southern or East Africa you will generally be able to see the big five. The difference really comes in when considering antelope as they are based on your chosen location. go there.
This is all dependant on the countries that you will be visitng and due to the status of certain vaccinations changing at times, please consult our experts before getting vaccines. go there.
In some parts of Southern Africa it is safe to drink the tap water, however it is highly recommended to stick to bottled water (mostly supplied) during your trip as even drinkable African water is completely different in taste and… go there.
Reviews on our Kampala safaris
This was my first safari. I didn’t expect to be so pampered. Everything was first class. We had everything provided for us before even asking. We had a dedicated team at our service. Megan was on call whenever we needed something and she…
Saada
from Nigeria
Tanya was an absolute delight to deal with. From the first phone call she was extremely polite, professional and very eager to facilitate my requests regarding our safari. Our 3 nights at the V & A Hotel were fabulous and Motswari Game…
Debbie
from Australia
Perfectly tailor-made tours that take all your wishes and requests into consideration. All my expectations were beyond fulfilled.
Henrik Wetterstrand
from Sweden
Living afar and trusting in an organisation with whom you have no previous knowledge can lead to feeling of mistrust and wondering whether what we have paid for actually exists. A little more proactive communication would have eased those…
Tony Russell
I just wanted to thank Discover Africa and Karl Svendsen - the safari was great - we saw many more animals than expected including cheetah, leopard, many lions and even a three-day old elephant calf. Additionally, we had our own hippo…
Margaret Dean
Planning the trip was managed extremely well especially since travel was at a busy time of year and not much notice was given. All communication was by email, and was responded to promptly and efficiently. Different options were provided…
Suzanne McKeen
Related Articles
The ultimate guide to preparing for a luxury African safari
The African savannah is often portrayed as a warm and dry destination, and may result in unwanted surprise for travellers who aren’t properly informed about what to expect in the bush. With the right advice and guidance, knowing what to… read more
10 reasons why a Selinda safari is worth the trip
A private wildlife sanctuary situate in Northern Botswana, the 320,000 acre Selinda Game Reserve is home to a huge diversity of wildlife, most notably it’s large elephant herds, as well as antelope, zebra, cheetah, wild dog and lion. If… read more
Expert Q&A: Africa’s best Big Five safari destinations
One of the main reasons why people travel to Africa is to see the Big Five - the African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard, and the White/Black rhinoceros. However, one of the most frequently asked questions we get is… read more
African wanderings - Andre’s Malawi safari experience [Traveller story]
I had the pleasure of chatting to Andre Holland, who ventured on a 15-day Malawi safari in March 2015, coming to grips with the local culture, spending time on it's remote neighboring islands and exploring its wildlife-rich game… read more
.png)
